Letter from a Pretty Bird Woman House Board Member

Dear all current and prospective donors:

I just received this email from one of the PBWH board members, and I must share it with you.

If you ever wonder whether you can make a difference in the world, you should read this letter.

If you have already donated, please read this letter. It might just bring a tear to your eye.

I just feel as if we, as a B.O.D, have been so remiss in not expressing our wonder and awe at what the good folks out there have done and are doing for Pretty Bird Woman House.

Last spring when Norman Bier stood up on behalf of the women of Standing Rock and set up the Chip In Site, we talked and talked about writing a letter. And now, you and your friends are doing the same so we can have a Shelter! It really does take one's breath away....truly!

Two of us live about 100 miles from McLaughlin and when we do gather at the Office their for our Meetings, we have so much to ponder and look at. We've worked long and hard to develop and set into place all of our Policies/Procedures, etc. and all of the other every day things that come up and need to be dealt with. We are working very hard to make sure we dot every i and cross every t!!!

I think one of the biggest problems is that there are not words to truly convey how we feel. I remember one day last spring, while we were having a Meeting, Georgia brought the mail and handed each of us a stack, telling us to start opening it. Betsy, in less than 10 minutes, I was holding a little under $15,000 in my hand! For Pretty Bird Woman House! I couldn't speak; we just looked at one another and cried.

Our vision, our dreams for the women of Standing Rock....it's happening and it is happening because of folks the likes of yourself, Norman, your colleagues, and all of the caring folks out there who believe and want to make a difference in the world.

I think of those 61 courageous women from Standing Rock, as well as the women from Alaska and Oklahoma who came forward to Amnesty International with their stories. What they did was so very brave and risky. We know that many of them had never ever told their stories before, some of them were Elders in their 60's and 70's!

What I'm saying is the actions of all of you, once you read the A.I. Report, tells women and their children...."we believe you and you don't have to live that way. You have a right to be safe and we're going to help you be safe." Too many times, women are doubted and not believed.

So, to each and every one of you, thank you for believing and standing beside each one of us!

Working to end violence against women and children, I am

Respectfully,
Shirley Erhart
Rural Outreach Advocate/CISS
B.O.D. Member/PBWH

P.S. Isn't our Georgia just a gem? I consider it a gift to have her in my life.....
I am blessed to call her a Sister

(there is a link to the Amnesty International report to which she refers on the right side of this page)